Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Mathews, Karunaratne could make Sri Lanka return: Mickey Arthur

Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur said Thursday that stars Angelo Mathews and Dimuth Karunaratne could make a return to the squad, despite their axing as players wrangle with the national board over wages.

Sri Lanka left Mathews, Karunaratne, Dinesh Chandimal and senior players behind for their three one-day internationals in Bangladesh.


Players are refusing to sign new contracts that would cut fees for some by 40 per cent.

Changes were also ordered after Sri Lanka lost a one-day series in West Indies 3-0 in March.

Kusal Perera has been made captain for this series while the selectors recalled Kusal Mendis and made him vice-captain.

"I think we just took the team in a direction. There's certainly no door closed on any of them," Arthur said in Dhaka.

"Angelo and Chandi are fantastic cricketers who are very much part of our Test unit at the moment."

Arthur said Sri Lanka had to start looking at players for the 2023 World Cup.

"That's the balancing act when you are transitioning a team, how you get it right. We will keep tweaking that until you do it properly," he said.

Arthur said Sri Lanka needed a tougher middle order and named Kushal Perera, Kusal Mendis, wicketkeeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella and Dhananjaya de Silva as the names the team would be "banking on".

In Friday's final match they will be battling to avoid a first whitewash defeat to Bangladesh.

"We battled to come to terms with the spinners, which is very surprising for me," said Arthur.

"The batsmen I see out in the nets are totally different to the batsmen who have gone out in the middle," he added.

"Whether it is performing under pressure or fear of failure – those are things you have to take out of their mind."

Sri Lanka also need a win to wrack up points for the International Cricket Council's ODI super league, which counts as qualification for the 2023 World Cup.

"We want to close off here with a good, hard, disciplined performance tomorrow. We want to take a win home," said Arthur.

More For You

David Tilak

David Tilak brings more than 25 years of experience in strategic financial roles across various businesses.

LinkedIn

LSL Property Services appoints David Tilak as chief financial officer and executive board director

Highlights

  • David Tilak appointed CFO and executive board director from 12 January,2026.
  • Brings 25 years' experience from Serco, Imperial Brands and General Electric.
  • Move follows extensive search to strengthen financial leadership.

LSL Property Services plc has appointed David Tilak as chief financial officer and executive board director, effective12 January ,2026 as the UK property services group seeks to drive growth and shareholder value.

Tilak will join LSL from Serco Group PLC, where he currently serves as group finance director, a position he has held since October 2024. In his current role, he is responsible for driving operational performance, internal and external reporting, and fiscal controls at one of the UK's largest public services providers.

Keep ReadingShow less